GARY WASSNER
The Twins is Book I of the fantasy series, GemQuest.
The great trees, the Lalas, are mysteriously dying, and along with them,
their chosen, their bond-mates, threatening the balance of power on the
entire planet. The heir to the throne of Gwendollen lays unconscious in the
heights of Seramour, under the protection of Treestar, leader of the southern
elves. His son, prince Elion, is trapped in Pardatha, a city under siege. The
three who were called' to educate the heir in the areas of combat, the arcane
arts, and ethics, the Lady, Filaree par D'Avalain with her companion,
Cameron, Robyn dar Tamarand, and Cairn of Thermaye, accompanied by his best
friend and guardian, Calyx, respectively, are all in transit to Pardatha from
their various homes. All three are unaware of the Dark Lord, Colton dar
Agonthea's attack upon the city, and all three believe that the heir,
Davmiran, is still in Pardatha, guarded by its noble lord, Baladar, whose
calling' summoned them initially. But, betrayed by the arrogant son of a
rival baron, Dav has been spirited out of the safety of the walled city of
Pardatha, and after a strange and dangerous series of events, ends up in the
healing arms of the elves. In Baladar's possession is the ring, endowed by
Calista, the Lady of the Island, with the power to awaken Dav. The Tomes of
Caradon, the histories and prophesies of the land, point to this young boy as
the one who will find the gem of eternity, harbored within the body of the
First', the greatest of the Lalas, the sentient trees, and determine why the
Lalas are dying. But, the tomes are ambiguous, leaving much in doubt. Colton
has his own plans for the heir, and he must capture him before he is
awakened, and assumes his powers with the help of his teachers. He, too,
believes Dav to be in Pardatha, the city to which he was cast' by his
guardian, Mira, as his parents were slaughtered, and his own kingdom fell
around him. Colton mounts a massive attack upon the garrisoned city before
the others arrive. Unbeknownst to all, cairn encounters a young Chosen,
Tomas, on his way to Pardatha, and takes him under his wing after his aunt
and uncle are tragically killed in a suspicious set of circumstances. This is
no ordinary boy, though, Cairn shortly realizes, as he joins him on his
journey to Pardatha. Later, they also befriend a runaway, young dwarf,
Preston, who joins their party as well. A fast friendship develops between
the two boys, whose ultimate roles in the quest for the gem of eternity will
be vital.
Everyone arrives at Pardatha during various stages of the siege and battle,
and each contributes in his or her own way, to the provisional defeat of the
enemy. Their relationships are solidified under these trying circumstances,
and they are united in purpose, though heartbreak and hardship has touched
them all.
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